In brief: Leinster's Premier stay is Evans sent

BADMINTON: Leinster ensured that they will remain in the Premier B of the English Intercounty league when they won two of their three matches last weekend at Milton Keynes.

With a team again boosted by the inclusion of Scott Evans, Leinster beat Buckinghamshire and Worcestershire both by a 6-4 margin. In their third match, they were very unlucky to lose to Avon 4-6. Evans was undefeated all weekend.

The final round of matches is in April. Highlight of this weekend's badminton is the Leinster Open in Terenure.

SNOOKER: Rodney Goggins, Robert Murphy and Brendan O'Donoghue will lead the Irish team competing at the European Championships, Malta, which starts on March 29.

Also travelling is an U21 team of Vincent Muldoon, Jason Devaney, Greg Casey and David Cassidy. These were selected after last weekend's U21 ranking tournament, when Muldoon beat Devaney 3-2 in the final. All compete in today's Stars of the Future tournament at the Ivy Rooms, Carlow.

Thunder hit Aer Lingus

VOLLEYBALL: Limerick-based Munster Thunder consolidated their position at the top of the Premiership when they beat Aer Lingus in straight sets last weekend.

Ballymum Patriots, who had lost to the Limerick side a week earlier are now second on the table ahead of the Jets, but this could change when the sides meet in a week's time.

In the women's premiership, defending champions Aer Lingus remain undefeated after beating the Munster Thunder's women's team. Next weekend they face Newbridge who are struggling to avoid relegation.

Mikey in Fuerteventura

WINDSURFING: Dublin's Mikey Clancy will compete against some of the world's best at the Fuerteventura Wave Classic in the Canaries next month. The 20-year-old DIT student is fully recovered from the serious ankle injury that saw him out of action for most of last year.

See www.mikeyclancy.com to follow his progress.

Who's up for challenge?

TABLE TENNIS: Young players are invited to take part in the next STIGA Junior Challenger Series event which takes place in Presentation College Carlow on February 5. Play starts at 10am; registration from 9:30am.

Details from the ITTA office 01-6251135.

Classy Conroy calls shots

SQUASH: Top seed Sean Conroy beat Ciaran Maher in the U17 boys' final at the Leinster Junior Open. Winning the U15 title was David Ryan. Daniel Harkin won the U-19 title. Aisling Guerzoni was a surprise winner of the girls' U15 title, beating top seed Griffin Gillanders, while Breanne Flynn had a solid win over Orna Murray in the U17 girls' final.

Race on at Punchestown

DUATHLON: Starting tomorrow at Punchestown is the annual Wheelworx Naas Duathlon Series, taking in the racecourse and nearby roads. A 3.5km run is followed by a 20km cycle and a second 3.5km run. Entry is €20 per race or €38 for the three-race series. Details www.runireland.com.